Weighing apparatus



- 1,6 4, w. A. BENTON 3 444 WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed Auz. 11. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 5, 1927.

W. A. BENTON WEIGHING APPARATUS Fi led Auz. 11. 1924 2 Sheets-She Inventor? William fl. Benton Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES {PATENT caries.

WILLIAM ALFRED BENTON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR: TO W. &T.

AVERY, LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND. I

wnrenmo KPPARATUS.

Application filed August 11, 1924, serialiNo. 731,466, and in Great Britain December 21, 1923.

This invention has reference to improve ments in andconnected with' weighing apparatus and relates "specifically tothat-type of weighing apparatus described and 6 claimed in the specification ofmy prlor Letters Patent No.-1,101,390 datedthe23rd day of June 1914- In weighing apparatus of this character when the load exceeds a predetermined minimum a rough approximation of such a load is first determined by means of a suitable resistant and the indication of the load thus obtained automatically determines and selects one or more of a number of resistants which when placed in operative" weighing connection with the machine exactly counterbalance the load as to the order of its major weight units, the remainder of the load as to the order of its minor weight 20 units being simultaneously counterbalanced by a separate resistant. The placing "of the selected resistants in operative fweighing connection with the machine is 'elfected by mechanical meanslwhich at the same time trees the apparatus from theinter'ference of the rough weighing resistant hereinbefore referred to. j j

The present invention has for its objects improvements in the construction arran ement and operation of mechanism weighing apparatus of this character whereby a machine suitable for effecting accurate weighments over a w de range 18 obtained.- The invention consists of a weighing ap-' as paratuS of the kind referred to, wherein the selected resistants are controlled vby'a 'series' of levers whose fulcra lie'in the same hon-- zontal plane, the selection ofthe requisite lever and the operation thereof being effect-j 4" ed by means of a stud, hammer plate and locking plate disposed in horizontal planes, the invention further resides in the.construction and operation of the levers referred to and in the arrangement and control 45 of the selector mechanism operated by the hand lever, and in the arrangement and operation of the mechanism.

I will now describe the general arrangement and operation of the invention with no particular reference to Figure 1 which is a diagrammatic representation of a weighing machine having a capacity of 30 tons constructed in accordance with my invention. In this machine the weighing resistant is divided into sixty parts one of which balancesthe load as to its minor I of -the machine, that is,

20 the requisite amoun greater than 15 cwt.

1 knife edge order up to a maximum of one sixtieth of the capacity up to cwts. the remainder of the loadbeing counterbalanced y one or more of the 59 resistants the correct resistant or aggregate of resistants to counterbalance the load being automatically determined selected and brought into operation during the weighment;

' Assuming the load to be less than 14 cwt. on the application of the load 7 to the weighing platforms the connecting rod '9 is drawn downwardly and through the shackle 10 and knife-edge 11 rocks the main weighbeam 12 about its fulcrum 13 thereby raising the other end of the weighbeam 12 which through the rod 14 depending therefrom lifts the pendulousresistant 15, the wei ht of which is equivalent to 15 cwt. of

load from the overweighted lever 16 and permitting the said lever 16'to rock about its fulcrum 17 thereby raising the vertically balanced :rod 18 and-through the "flexible connexion- 19 rotating the indicating drum "If the load placed'on-the platform 8 be the resistant 15 is completely'lifted off the lever 16 and the connecting'rod 9 is drawn downwardly until a projection 21 formed thereon bears against the lower end of a loop 22 the upper end of which bears on a knife-edge '23 secured to a lever 23 and which latter on the application of a downward pull thereto rocks about the fulcrum 24 and extends a spring resistant 25. The lowering of the end of the lever 23 in connexion with the spring resistant- 25 through a link 26 connected thereto permits of the rocking of a lever 27 which through avertically balanced rod 28 in operative connection therewith and a flexible connexion 29 rotates the rough weighing indicator 30the due amount and indicates thereon the measure of the load as to its major units. To effect an accurate weighment the hand lever 31 is now operated, the first movement of which causes a detent 32 to enter a notch 33 in a notched or toothed plate 33 whichis mounted on and rotates with a'spindle 34 which also carries the rough weight indicator 30. This latter, however, may take the form of a vertical dial or segment, and be separately connected to the lever 27. The locking of the toothed plate 33 determines the setting of a spring III" 7 37' which in turn socks its-respective lever '39 andthrough I a a Ewire' 5:40 zlconnected. i thereto lifts a -steppedurod.41 whichl'according: to

Ethe number= of; projections? 41 it contains trips. a number 'of' pivotally mounted .be-licrankfilevers; 42.' ::;=The;continned and )final movement of :the, fever- BLefi'ectS- tiller-placing of the determined series- -..of .resistants'Mmn a rod 45 whichidepehdsifrom thefpo'wemarm of the -we1ghbeam 112 =-.the trippingoi. the hell cr'anks 42 permitting, the. :I i respective levers 143' to fall sufiiciently'. to deposit: ,their utweighta-flgon the rdd-46-.;-Th'e series'bf re- -:=-sistants selected by the-roughweightaideterchine.

mination is suchithait .theyare exact/l5 prober f v units indicated: by the rough AweighingJindicato'r-the remaining; amount of -the load to obtain ziequilibriumjheing counterbalanced by the mechanism iemployetl-ifor effecting. a. determination :oi-the mi n'onpart (Bf-the, load. v5.1.

"The respective: returned :to';' their izero. position on the completion of a weighment by-nieansiof -fleidble Eindicatom are Connexions 19 land 29 (which: are oppositely wound. about :the K respective'spindles relative ,to the flexibl'e'connexions '19 and'1 29the eon-e 4 r nleYer-s 39 triptheliell-cra nked levers {i2 and weightsflorzpistons workingni n dashpofisi'A6.-; I u t asuflicientdistanee to admit of. the resistant nations" 19a a d: fsbellig connected-m Referring nowto Figures i210 5-;of -the,accompanying: sheets: ofdrawing which illus tratein greater detail the .improved"eonstr'uction andarrangement: of .a weighing machine in accordance with the. presentcI-m, vention, Figure 2 is a;dxagrarnmat ief;part

sectional end elevation ofthe weighing nia-r Figure 3 isa sectional l-an on line,- 3%3 of Figure 2 limited to s ow the toothed plate and its locking detent. a Figure 4 a section of theresistant selector mechanism taken on the line'H of Figure 2 part. of the hammer plate .being 1 broken away the better todisclose the arrangement of the selector levers,'and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the manually operable control lever and the mechanism actuated thereby. V

The horizontal'drum indicators and areeach mounted on vertical spindles and as hereinbefore stated are operated by means of oppositely wound flexible connections 19, 19 and 29, 29 respectively, the said connexions being passed round drums 19", 19 and 29", 29 mounted on their respective FabOUtfthQ, aXIS SPixidlesffillie {poking plate 33,is connected through the spindle 34 to the drum of the indicator 30 apdsinge the locking plate 2-325 and irriifii are secti'red t'ti" the spindle 3-1- which cariieistliedrinn 30 they will rotate thrqnglregual arcs as the drum 30 when the unanswered.

.headgotthepins 3? are a rrangcd in a circle below the selector stud 3'5 and direct- -lyzbel-ov'v :t-he-c-ircle traced by the stud in its rotation j flheset pins 37am disposed ar d r-guidedwithin' apertureseztormed'in the upper and lower-rims 48 1-4 8 Rofa double rimmed annulus gt8 winch: is symmetrically disposed of the s indle-B L .v The pins 37 are forked at their IOWGI QDdS- QIld vbestride th oll eri ends-of; the ,of Its-err; 139 which'control the operat o'nof the selected afresistants, iatllhese levers 39 are of varying lengthsa-ndthein-fulcra are disposed in an ellipse symmetrical the axis of the spin- 'dle;34 the hearings forthe saidfulcra being formed by an elliptical bearing plate 4.9. -,The Outerends otthalevers 3 9, as will be portionateto and" counterbalance thenun1- inferred from the} disposition of the pins '37, lie on a circle and.owingjto-the.varying lengths of thedevers their} innerends lie on {an ,ellipse'..; The inne r ends of the lovers 39 are connected to -wir es 4E0 which pass through apertures 49 cformedfin a plate 49 which constitutesjthebase of elliptical bearing latgAQ iaf ore referred to; the other ends of a e e-w s: e .ei n 1 ar 41 whichare; pr oyided wvitlr steps 41mm num- ,varies Wlth tlief resistant value of the respective rod '41. These rods fil when gaised bythe nocking, .of; their respective.

thus permit of the leversfiia. to {all thrmigh or aggregate of resistantsl l i being deposited master weight podlfig omitted in Figure 1 is l w r dibyth ap a 'iee of th lever 31 w manner about tofibe described and since the *outer ends ofthekvers43nor-ma1ly rest (in pins 51 mounted on the said rod the Revers; 43 rock about their fulcra 43 and those levers whose hell-cranks 42 have been tripped are permitted to fall a distance sufficient to ,deposit the selected resistants on the rod. This voperation of the levers 43 will be clear ly imderstoodonreference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings". v

The manually operable lever 31 for efi'ccting the deposition of the resistants in the manner-hereinbefore described is mounted on a shaft 52 which has keyed thereto a toothed segment 53 which meshes with pinion 54 mounted on a shaft 55. This shaft 55 carries at one end thereof a crank (n t shown) to the end of which is attached th lower end of a rod 56 which at its upper cn-i is slidablv monnted within an aperture in an arm of a lever 57 which carries :1 Fuel W a cam which 58to which the locking (letent 32 is sec ured, a spring 59 normally in tension being atoperation of the machine so requires- In the initial position the rod 56 maintains-the F detent 32 out of engagement with thetoothed plate 33. Also 'moiinted'on the shaft 553is on the-operation of the lever in the cover the-independent resistant 15 in the manner before referred to, the indication of such a load-'appearing at the aperture formed plate 70. A mechanically or electrically operated shutter 71 is prefer ably embodied With-the indicating mechanism,' but the particular form 'of Weight indicating' does not-itorm part of the present invention and is only diagrammatically illustrated for the purpose of an understanding of resistants suflicient to exactly counter- 31 and consequent '1 counter-clocliwise rotarane working tion of'the piiiion and shaft' 55 bears'against mechanism; and depressesa 'lever"6 1 one; end ofwhich 2 Claimsz g :ispivotallv-mountedoha shaft 62and there- 1.;In a-weighing apparatus the combinaby pulls downwardly a-rod"63 -'whi'ch is sei tion of an automatic resistant for initially curedat 'its 'u perin'd to"a'horizontal memdetermining an itpprozn'mation of the load, ber 64 'a'ttachedto thehammer platef38 and means f0r':transmitting the load to said rethus' efl'ects thelo weriiig of the hammer plate sistant, a+ weight :indicator :for indicating onthe selector stud 35. The shaft 55'fal'so the measurebfitheloadas to its major units, carriesia second cam Go-which, during'the means-connected tof said resistant for efi'ectfirststagesof the operationpf-the lever 3l,"'=ing-the actuationzo f the -said indicator, a "bears ,against thel roller' 66mounted on a series of weights for counterbalancing the 'leiier'iti'l which is pivotally'mounted'on the load 'as'toits majorlorder, meansin operashaft 62' thereby' 'inaintaining'the outer end tive connection with the aforesaid indicatorof the lever 67*in'"i ts"lowermost position.' to'r 'selecting the required'wveight for coun- Thi s outer end of-th lever'67 is' connected{terlialanciiig' the major'order of the load as to'ione en'd of'a chairi68 which passes over a. by the indication recorded by 0f the other parts of the a a I determined chain wheel 69 and which is connected'at-"t he indicator, a series of levers'having their its o ther end to the upper end of the master fulcra disposed .:in 'a horizontal plane, a weight'depositing r'od 50'hereinbefore re--"iweighbeam, means actuated by the levers 1ferre'd"toi' Thus "when' the lever 67 is de-"- fo1-depositing therequired weights for counpressed the rod 50is maintained in its raisedi--terbalancing jth major order of the load pos'itiona ndtheends of the'levers'43'rest'on on 'zth eilw'eighbeam, and manually operable the pins 51 'and the' Weights aretherebyfineansiacting through 'the aforesaid selectmaintained'free of the load rod 45 and alsog ing'means for controlling-the 'operation of freeof the'bell-crankweight lever rests but thesaidleversi was 1;" o} the fin'al'niovement of the'jlever-31 through?" 2-. fInia weighing ap'paratus the combinathe ca m 65'permi'ts' the weight of the rod tio'nof an automatic; resistant for initiallv "50 through the'chain68'to overbala'n'ce andf'determiningtheapproximation of the load, 'ra'ise' the lever 67 and this'permissive lower- I meansfou-transmitting the load to said re-- ing of'the ,rod 50 admits of the leversj43-isistantaarotatable \i'e'ightiindicator for inwhose bell cranks42 have been tripped to dicatiaiglthwmeas'ure ofyt he load as to its fall sufliciently to deposit their "selected rem'ajor uuit's,meanstor eiieeting the rotation sistants on; the load rod 45. 'ofitheafores'aid indicator, a series of Weights It Will be seenthat for loads above the'ca- 'for coiinterbalancing? the load as to its major pacity of-the independent resistant 15' the 'order, a selector stud rotatable with the indication of the load as to its major'units said indicator for-determining the required is roughly determined by the sprin resistant weights for counterbalancing the major or- 25. the indication appearing at t e respec-' der ofathe load as determined by the inditive aperture 70 in the cover plate 70 the cation recorded by the indicator, said studs degree of rotation of the indicator necessary being adapted to be rotated in a horizontal for this indication rotating the selector stud "plane. a series of levers having their fulcra a like amount and thereby selecting a stud disposed in a horizontal plane, a weighbeain, 37 which controls a resistant or aggregate-"means connection with said levers for effect.- ing the deposition of the weights on said weighbeam, manually operable means acting :through said stud for controlling the actu ation of the said levers. and means for automatically counterbalancing, the minor order of the'load.

3Q In a weighing apparatus the combination of an automatic resistant for initially determining the approximation of the load, means for transmitting the load to said resistant, a rotatable weight indicator for inbalance the load indicated by the dial 30. The operation of the lever 31 effects the transference of the selected resistant or aggregate of resistants to the load arm of l the weighbeam 12 and in a manner that will be obvious from the operation of the machine as hereinbefore described frees the machine from the influence of the rough weighing resistant 25 the balance of the load as to its minor order being counterbalanced by series O dicating the 'ineasure of ztlle load asto its :major units, means connected with said re- Sista-nt for rotating the aforesaid indicator, a selective series of weights :for counterbah ancing the load as to its major order, iasselector stud rotatable with the said indicator for determining '-tlie required weights for counter-balancing the majororder' otthe load as determined :by .the"indica tion recorded by the indicator said-selector stud-being adapted to be rotated in a ,horizontalplane, means for locking said selector ist'ud in,. its determined position, a series of levershaving their fulcr a disposed in aho-rizontalg'plane, a weighbeam, means connected withi-said levers'for effecting the deposition vo n-'-the weighbeam of the required :weights, a-hammer plate adapted to cooperate with (the selector stud tor operating-the -.levers controlling the required weights, manually opera- ',able means for controlling the-action otthe saidr'hainmer plate, and means ton-auto matically counterba'lancing the'minor order of the loadr. I i, 4. In (r-weighing apparatus-thecombination of an. automatic resistant for initially determining the approximation of theload, means for transmitting the load -tosaidresistant, a rotatable weight indicator tor-zindicating the measure of the load-as-to its major units, means connected to said-resistant for rotating said .indi-c'ator,i a: selective f Weights for counterbalancinglthe load as to its major order, aadhorizontally disposed selector stud-adapted-toanotate ith said indicator for determining-therequired weights for 'counterbalancing-the major order of the load as determined by the-indication recorded by the indicator, \ahori- :zontally disposed hammer plate, a' series of levers having their fulcra' disposed in a hori-f zontal plane and adapted to control-the depo-i sition of the selected weight under-the action of said hammer plate, means for lockingthe selector stud in its determined position relative to one of said leversfor defining' 'vhich mer plate acting through said selector stud upon the operation of the said hammer plate, a n'eighbeam, means connected with saidlevcrs tar effecting the deposition of the required weights on the Weighbeam,-manu-' all operable means for controlling the oporation of the said hammer plate, and means t -,.r aut matically counterbalancing the min o'dcr of the load. Y

In a weighing apparatus the combinat on of an automatic'resistant for initially determining the approximation of the load, means for transmitting the load to said resistant, a rotatable weight indicator for in dicating the measure of the load as to its major units, means connected to said resistant for rotating said Weight indicator, a selective series of weights for counterbalanc'ing the load as to its major order, a horizontally disposed selector stud adapted to rotate with said indicator for determining 'the required ..,\veights'-f or counterbalancing the major or- ,der of .the load asdetrmined by the indication accorded by ,the indicator :1 heri- .-.zontally disposed hammer plate, a series of a levers hayingheir fulera disposed in a horizontal plane and; adapted to control the deposition of-theselected-weight under the g etionof, saidham-mer, plate, means for. lock- --ing, the selector stud in, -itsdetermined posi- ,--'t.ion 'relatiye to one of, said lev ers. for defin nsih tthele r$ is t be deerssed n-byithe hammer plate adtingthrough the said selector stud ,upon Ethefoperation lot the said j hammen, plate, a iweig hbeam, means connected to {said -.leyers; ,tori tearin the required deposition on-the :weighbeam .ot the i-sli s t r win er-balanc ng, t l s to its major' iorder, manually; operable means for successivelyefiecting a locking of the selectojr stud and the depression; of the hamnierqplatef and the selected leverpand means V'for automatically :pounterbalancing the minorlorderzof ,the load.

--:6.,In a weighing apparatus, thecombinatilt) of an automatic resistant forinitially determining the approximation. the load, means {for transmitting the load to said re- .t i sistant, arotatable weight indicator for ind-icating-the,measure of the as to its zsmajor .ainits imeans, connected to. said re- ---sistant-\-for rotating: the; said indicator, a

,"imining' the required ,weights for counterbala nei'ng t-he,rnajoraonder ptthe load as determined by theiindication recorded by the -indicator; a-horizonta llydisposed hammer plate-{a series of levers having their fulcra disposedirirr a iada'pted tomontroli h i ont l-Plan and the deposition of the V eselected weightainden the .action of said of the levers is to be depressed 'by tlie'ham-:

a hammer-plate,means for locking the selector mstudaiinits'determi ned position relative to one-ofsaidlevers for. defining which of the dermis is ,to be depressed by the hammer i late acting through the said selector stud upon the operation of-,-the gsaid hammer plate, a: .\\-'eig-hbea.1n, means connected with said levers for effecting the deposition on the weigh-beam of the selected Weights for counterbalancing the major order of the load, means operated by said hammer plate for effecting through said stud a rocking of said levers and thereby actuating the means for efiecting the deposition of the selected weights, manually operable means for successively effecting a locking of the selector stud and a depression of the hammer plate, and means for automatically counterbalancing the minor order of the load.

7. In a weighing apparatus the combination of an automatic resistant for initially determining the approximation of the load, means for transmitting the load to said resistant, a weight indicator for indicating the measure of the load as to its major unit, means connected with the resistant for actuating the weight indicator, a selective series of weights for counterbalancing the load as to its major order, a horizontally disposed selector stud in operative connection with said resistant, said stud selecting the required weight for counterbalancing the major order of the load according to the indication of the weight indicator, a horizontally disposed hammer plate, a 'series of levers having their fulcra disposed in a horizontal plane and adapted to control the deposition of the selected weight under the action of said hammer plate, means for locking the selector stud in its determined position relative to one of said levers for defining which Of\ the levers is to be' depressed by the hammer plate acting through the said selector stud upon the operation of the said hammer plate, a weighbeam, means connected with said levers for effecting the deposition in the weighbeam of the selected weights, means operated by said hammer plate for efiecting through saidstud a rocking of the levers whereby the means connected therewith are actuated for effecting the deposition of the selected weights, means connected with the levers for depositing the weights on said weighbeam, manually operable means for successively effecting the locking of the selector stud and the depression of the hammer plate, and means for automatically counterbalancing the minor order of the load.

- 8. In a weighing apparatus, the combination of an automatic resistant for initially determining an approximation of the load, a weight indicator for indicating the measure of the load as to its major units, means connected with the resistant for actuating said weight indicator, a horizontally disposed selector stud in operative connection with the resistant for selecting the required Weight for counterbalancing the major order of the load as determined by the weight indicator, a horizontally disposed hammer plate, a series of levers having their fulcra disposed in a horizontal plane and-adapted to control the deposition of the selected weight under the action of said hammer plate. means for locking the selector stud in its determined position relative to one of said levers for defining which of the levers is to be depressed by the hammer plate acting through the said selector stud upon the operation of the said hammer plate, a weighbeam, means connected with said levers for effecting the deposition on the weighbeam of the required weights for counterbalancing the load as to its major order, means operated by said hammer plate for rocking said levers, manually operable means for successively effecting a locking of the selector stud and depression of the hammer plate, and means for automatically counterbalancing the minor order of the load.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM ALFRED BENTON. 

